Thermostable Nucleic Acid Polymerase From Thermococcus Gorgonarius

ABSTRACT

A purified thermostable enzyme is derived form the thermophilic archaebacterium  Thermococcus gorgonarius . The enzyme can be native or recombinant, retains approximately 90% of its activity after incubation for two hours at 95° C. in the presence of stabilizing agents and possesses 3′-5′ proofreading exonuclease activity. Thermostable DNA polymerases are useful in many recombinant DNA techniques, especially nucleic acid amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application is a divisional application of 12/135,994, filed Jun. 9, 2008, which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/269,860, filed Apr. 1, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,425,423, issued Sep. 16, 2008, which is a US national phase of PCT/EP97/05393 (later published as WO 98/14590), filed Oct. 1, 1997, which claims priority to European Patent Application Nos. 96115874.8, filed Oct. 3, 1996 and 97100584.8, filed Jan. 16, 1997, each of which is incorporated by reference.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an extremely thermostable enzyme. More specifically, it relates to a thermostable DNA polymerase obtainable from Thermococcus gorgonarius.

DNA polymerases are a family of enzymes which are in particular involved in DNA replication and repair. Extensive research has been conducted on the isolation of DNA polymerases from mesophilic microorganisms such as E. coli (see, e.g., Bessman et al., J. Biol. Chem., 223:171-177 (1957), and Buttin and Komberg, J. Biol. Chem., 241:5419-5427 (1966)).

Research has also been conducted on the isolation and purification of DNA polymerases from thermophiles, such as Thermus aquaticus (Chien, A. et al., J. Bacteriol., 127:1550-1557 (1976)). Further, the isolation and purification of a DNA polymerase with a temperature optimum of 80° C. from Thermus aquaticus YT1 strain has been described (EP 0 258 017 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,819).

Research has indicated that while the Taq DNA polymerase has a 5′-3′ polymerase-dependent exonuclease function, the Taq DNA polymerase does not possess a 3′-5′ proofreading exonuclease function (Lawyer, F. C. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 264:6427-6437 (1989); Bernad, A. et al., Cell, 59:219 (1989)). As a result, Taq DNA polymerase is prone to base incorporation errors, making its use in certain applications undesirable. For example, attempting to clone an amplified gene is problematic since any one copy of the gene may contain an error due to a random misincorporation event. Depending on where in the PCR cycle that error occurs (e.g., in an early replication cycle), the entire DNA amplified could contain the erroneously incorporated base, thus, giving rise to a mutated gene product. Furthermore, research has indicated that Taq DNA polymerase has a thermal stability of not more than several minutes at 100° C.

The 3′-5′ exonuclease activity is generally considered to be desirable, because misincorporated or unmatched bases of the synthesized nucleic acid sequence are eliminated by this activity. Therefore, the fidelity of PCR utilizing a polymerase with 3′-5′ exonuclease activity is increased. Such an enzyme is, e.g., the DNA polymerase from Pyrococcus furiosus (Lundberg et al., Gene, 108:1-6 (1991)).

Other more recent investigation focuses on the isolation and purification of DNA polymerases from archaebacteria such as Thermococcus sp. (EP 0 455 430), in particular a purified DNA polymerase obtainable from Thermococcus litoralis is described. Also the recombinant preparation and the gene encoding for this enzyme is known in the art (EP 0 547 920).

In EP 0 455 430 is also described a DNA polymerase from Pyrococcus sp. and the gene thereof which also contains introns to be removed for expression of the functional enzyme in E. coli.

In EP 0 701 000 A and in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol. 93, No. 11, pp. 5281-5285 (1996), a thermostable DNA polymerase 9° N7 is described which exhibits a very strong 3′-5′-exonuclease activity. However, it has been observed that the 9° N7 polymerase exhibits a tendency to degrade single stranded DNA (primer). Therefore, the exonuclease activity has been modulated and a mutant 9° Nm polymerase has been obtained which is more useful for a number of applications as the native enzyme. However, when using a 9° Nm polymerase for PCR (see FIG. 6), a primer-template independent DNA-synthesis seems to occur (as can be deducted from the observed highmolecular smear in the gel (FIG. 6)) instead of the occurrence of defined PCR products when using, e.g., Taq-Polymerase. Therefore, neither the native nor the exonuclease modulated 9° N7 polymerase can be successfully used in PCR.

In WO 92/03556, a thermostable DNA polymerase obtainable from the eubacterium Thermotoga maritima is described which also exhibits proofreading activity. However, in comparison to other DNA polymerases, e.g., Pfu polymerase or Tgo polymerase, the Tma polymermase exhibits a relatively low fidelity (Flaman, J. M. et al., Nucl. Acids. Res., 22:3259-3260 (1994); Cline, J. et al., Nucl. Acids. Res., 24:3546-3551 (1996)).

The DNA polymerase obtainable from Pyrococcus furiosis (Pfu) is described in WO 92/09689 and exhibits a relatively high fidelity.

Accordingly, there is a desire in the art to obtain and produce a purified, highly thermostable DNA polymerase with 3′-5′ proofreading exonuclease activity which exhibits a high fidelity and is suitable to improve the PCR process.

The present invention meets this need by providing a DNA polymerase from Thermococcus gorgonarius (Tgo), together with the related DNA and amino acid sequence information, recombinant expression vector and a purification protocol for said DNA polymerase. The DNA polymerase according to the present invention exhibits more than a two fold greater replication fidelity than known DNA polymerases, e.g., obtainable from Pyrococcus furiosus. A further advantage is that the 3′-5′ exonuclease activity found in T. gorgonarius polymerase can also decrease non-specific background amplification in PCR by degrading defrayed ends of primers bound to unspecific sequences thereby destabilizing the binding of the primer because of decreasing the length of the helix. Tgo polymerase is thus unexpectedly superior to known DNA polymerases in amplification protocols requiring high fidelity DNA synthesis (see FIGS. 8-10). Another advantageous property of the DNA polymerase of Thermococcus gorgonarius is the fact, that the gene does not contain intervening sequences which would have to be removed to accomplish expression in E. coli.

The thermostable DNA polymerase enzyme obtainable from T. gorgonarius catalyzes the template directed polymerization of DNA, has an apparent molecular weight of about 92,000-96,000 daltons and retains 90% of its activity after incubation for two hours at 95° C. in the presence of a stabilizer like a non-ionic detergent as, e.g., 0.01% THESIT™ (Dodecylpoly(ethylenglycolether)_(n)) or 0.01% NONIDET P40™ (Ethylphenolpoly(ethylenglycolether)_(n)).

Moreover, DNA encoding the 92,000-96,000 daltons thermostable DNA polymerase obtainable from Thermococcus gorgonarius has been isolated and which allows to obtain the thermostable enzyme of the present invention by expression in E. coli. The DNA sequence of the DNA polymerase obtainable from Thermococcus gorgonarius is shown in SEQ ID NO:6.

The recombinant Thermococcus gorgonarius DNA polymerase also possesses 3′-5′ exonuclease (proofreading) activity. Furthermore the gene encoding DNA polymerase from Thermococcus gorgonarius does not contain intervening sequences.

Thermococcus gorgonarius was isolated from E. A. Bonch-Osmolovskaya and V. A. Svetlichny, Institute of Microbiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia. Thermococcus gorgonarius is a new strain, isolated from a thermal vent in New Zealand. This strain does not show DNA-DNA homology with T. celer, T. litoralis or T. stetteri (E. A. Bonch-Osmolovskaya, unpublished results).

The preferred thermostable enzyme herein is a DNA polymerase obtainable from Thermococcus gorgonarius DSM 8976 (deposited on the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH, Mascheroder Weg 1b, D-38124 Braunschweig). This organism is an extremely thermophilic, sulfur metabolizing, archaebacterium, with a growth range between 55° C. and 98° C.

A preferred method for isolation and purification of the enzyme is accomplished—after all growth—using the multi-step process as follows:

First, the frozen cells are thawed, suspended in a suitable buffer such as buffer A (40 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.4; 0.1 mM EDTA, 7 mM 2-mercaptoethanol; 1 mM Pefabloc SC™ (4-(2-Aminoethyl)-benzolsulfonylfluorid)), disrupted by high pressure at 1.200 bar. KCl was added to the extract to a final concentration of 400 mM and the solution cleared by centrifugation. The supernatant is then passed through a Heparin Sepharose Cl 6B column (Pharmacia), which has a strong affinity for nucleic acid binding proteins. The nucleic acids present in the supernatant solution of Thermococcus gorgonarius and many of the other proteins pass through the column and are removed by washing the column with two column volumes of buffer A. After washing, the enzyme is eluted with a linear gradient from 0 to 1 M NaCl in buffer A. The peak DNA polymerase activity is dialyzed and applied to a DEAE Sephacel column (Pharmacia). The column is washed with buffer A and the enzyme activity eluted with a linear gradient from 0 to 1 M NaCl in buffer A. The peak DNA polymerase activity is dialyzed and applied to a Cellulose Phosphate column (Whatman). The enzyme is again eluted with a linear gradient such as 0 to 1 M NaCl in buffer A. The enzyme is about 40% pure at this stage.

The apparent molecular weight of the DNA polymerase obtainable from Thermococcus gorgonarius is between about 92,000 to 96,000 daltons when compared with DNA polymerases of known molecular weight, such as E. coli DNA polymerase I and Thermus thermophilus DNA polymerase. It should be understood, however, that as a protein from an extreme thermophile, Thermococcus gorgonarius DNA polymerase may migrate during electrophoresis at an aberrant relative molecular weight due to failure to completely denature or other intrinsic properties. The exact molecular weight of the thermostable enzyme of the present invention may be determined from the coding sequence of the Thermococcus gorgonarius DNA polymerase gene. The molecular weight of the DNA polymerise may be determined by any technique, for example, by in situ analysis after separation by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) as described in Spanos, A. and Hübscher, U., Methods in Enzymology, 91:263-277 (1983).

Polymerase activity is either measured by the incorporation of radioactively labeled deoxynucleotides into DNAse-treated, or activated DNA, following subsequent separation of the unincorporated deoxynucleotides from the DNA substrate. Polymerase activity is proportional to the amount of radioactivity in the acid-insoluble fraction comprising the DNA, as described by Lehman, I. R. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 233:163 (1958), or by incorporation of digoxigeninlabeled dUTP and determination of incorporated Digoxigenin-dUTP using chemoluminescence according to the method described in Holtke, H. J. et al., Biotechniques, 12:104-113 (1992).

The DNA polymerase of the present invention has a very high thermal stability at 95° C. It retains approximately 90 percent of its activity after incubation at 95° C. for 120 minutes in the presence of stabilizer. The thermal stability is determined by pre-incubating the enzyme at the temperature of interest in the presence of all assay components (buffer, MgCl₂, deoxynucleotides, activated DNA and a stabilizer like 0.01% THESIT™ and 0.01% NONIDET P40™), except the single radioactively-labeled deoxynucleotide. At predetermined time intervals, ranging from 1-120 minutes, small aliquots are removed, and assayed for polymerase activity using one of the methods described above.

The thermostable enzyme of this invention may also be produced by recombinant DNA techniques, as the gene encoding this enzyme has been cloned from Thermococcus gorgonarius genomic DNA. The complete coding sequence for the Thermococcus gorgonarius DNA polymerase can be derived from the plasmid pBTac2Tgo on an approximately 2.3 kB EcoRI/PstI restriction fragment.

The production of a recombinant form of Thermococcus gorgonarius DNA polymerase generally includes the following steps: DNA is isolated which codes for the active form of the polymerase. This can be accomplished, e.g., by screening of a DNA library derived from the genomic DNA of T. gorgonarius using the DNA sequence described in SEQ ID NO:1 as a probe. Clones containing DNA fragments of T. gorgonarius hybridizing to the probe are isolated and the nucleotide sequence of the plasmid inserts determined. Complete isolation of the coding region and the flanking sequences of the DNA polymerase gene can be performed by restriction fragmentation of the T. gorgonarius DNA with another restriction enzyme as in the first round of screening and by inverse PCR (Innis et al., PCR Protocols, Academic Press, Inc., 219-227 (1990)). This can be accomplished with synthesized oligonucleotide primers binding at the outer DNA sequences of the gene part but in opposite orientation, e.g., with the SEQ ID NOS:2 and 3. As template T. gorgonarius DNA is used which is cleaved by restriction digestion and circularized by contacting with T4 DNA ligase. To isolate the coding region of the whole polymerase gene, another PCR is performed using primers as shown in SEQ ID NOS:4 and 5 to amplify the complete DNA polymerase gene directly from genomic DNA and introducing ends compatible with the linearized expression vector.

SEQ ID NO: 1: 5′-ATG ATH YTN GAY ACN GAY TAY ATH AC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 2: 5′-GGC CTA CGA GAG GAA CGA ACT GGC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 3: 5′-GGC GTA GAT GTA GGG CTC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 4: 5′-GAG CTG GTC GAA TTC ATG ATC CTG GAC GCT GAC TAC ATC ACC -3′ SEQ ID NO :5: 5′- AGC CTG CAG TCA TGT CTT AGG TTT TAG CCA CGC-3′

The gene is operably linked to appropriate control sequences for expression in either prokaryotic or eukaryotic host/vector systems. The vector preferably encodes all functions required for transformation and maintenance in a suitable host, and may encode selectable markers and/or control sequences for polymerase expression. Active recombinant thermostable polymerase can be produced by transformed host cultures either continuously or after induction of expression. Active thermostable polymerase can be recovered either from host cells or from the culture media if the protein is secreted through the cell membrane.

It is also preferable that Thermococcus gorgonarius thermostable polymerase expression is tightly controlled in E. coli during cloning and expression. Vectors useful in practicing the present invention should provide varying degrees of controlled expression of Thermococcus gorgonarius polymerase by providing some or all of the following control features: (1) promoters or sites of initiation of transcription, either directly adjacent to the start of the polymerase gene or as fusion proteins, (2) operators which could be used to turn gene expression on or off, (3) ribosome binding sites for improved translation, and (4) transcription or translation termination sites for improved stability. Appropriate vectors used in cloning and expression of Thermococcus gorgonarius polymerase include, for example, phage and plasmids. Example of phage include lambda gt11 (Promega), lambda Dash (Stratagene), lambda ZapII (Stratagene). Examples of plasmids include pBR322, pBTac2 (Boehringer Mannheim), pBluescript (Stratagene), pSP73 (Promega), pET3A (Rosenberg, A. H. et al., Gene, 56:125-135 (1987)) and pET11C (Studier, F. W. et al., Methods in Enzymology, 185:60-89 (1990)). According to the present invention the use of a plasmid has shown to be advantageously, particularly pBTac2. The Plasmid pBTac2 carrying the Thermococcus gorgonarius DNA polymerase gene is then designated pBTac2Tgo.

Standard protocols exist for transformation, phage infection and cell culture (Maniatis et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory Press (1982)). Of the numerous E. coli strains which can be used for plasmid transformation, the preferred strains include JM110 (ATCC 47013), LE392 pUBS 520 (Maniatis et al., supra; Brinkmann et al., Gene, 85:109-114 (1989); JM101 (ATCC No. 33876), XL1 (Stratagene), and RR1 (ATCC No. 31343), and BL21 (DE3) plysS (Studier, F. W. et al., supra). According to the present invention, the use of the E. coli strain LE392 pUBS 520 has shown to be advantageous. The E. coli strain LE392 pUBS 520 transformed with the plasmid pBTac2Tgo is then designated E. coli pBtac2Tgo (DSM No. 11328). E. coli strain XL1 Blue (Stratagene) is among the strains that can be used for lambda phage, and Y1089 can be used for lambda gt11 lysogeny. The transformed cells are preferably grown at 37° C. and expression of the cloned gene is induced with IPTG (Isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranosid).

Isolation of the recombinant DNA polymerase can be performed by standard techniques. Separation and purification of the DNA polymerase from the E. coli extract can be performed by standard methods. These methods include, for example, methods utilizing solubility such as salt precipitation and solvent precipitation, methods utilizing the difference in molecular weight such as dialysis, ultra-filtration, gel-filtration, and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, methods utilizing a difference in electric charge such as ion-exchange column chromatography, methods utilizing specific interaction such as affinity chromatography, methods utilizing a difference in hydrophobicity such as reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography and methods utilizing a difference in isoelectric point such as isoelectric focusing electrophoresis.

One preferred method for isolating and purification of the recombinant enzyme is accomplished using the multi-stage process as follows.

The frozen cells are thawed and suspended in a suitable buffer such as buffer A (40 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5; 0.1 mM EDTA; 7 mM 2-mercaptoethanol) in the presence of Pefabloc SC in a final concentration of 1 mM, lysed by the addition of lysozyme (200 μg/ml) under stirring for 30 minutes at 4° C. Sodium deoxycholate is added to a final concentration of 0.05%. After an incubation for another 30 minutes, KCl is added to a final concentration of 0.75 M. The suspension is incubated at 72° C. for 15 minutes and centrifuged. The supernatant is adjusted to 25% saturation with (NH₄)₂SO₄ and then applied to a hydrophobic interaction chromatography column such as TSK Butyl Toyopearl 650C (TosoHaas). Most of the nucleic acids and unspecific proteins are in the flow through and wash of the column while the polymerase is eluting at the end of a decreasing gradient from 30% to 0% saturation of (NH₄)₂SO₄ in buffer A (with additional 10% glycerol). The polymerase-active fractions are pooled, dialyzed against buffer A containing 10% glycerol, adjusted to 10 mM MgCl₂ and applied to a high affinity column for nucleotide-binding enzymes such as Fractogel TSK AF-Blue column (Merck). The column is washed with buffer A containing 10% glycerol and the polymerase protein is eluted with a linear gradient of 0 to 3 M NaCl in buffer A (with additional 10% glycerol). The polymerase fractions are pooled and dialyzed against the storage buffer B (20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0; 0.1 mM EDTA; 10 mM 2-mercaptoethanol; 50 mM (NH₄)₂SO₄; 50% glycerol) and stored at −20° C.

The Thermococcus gorgonarius DNA polymerase of the present invention may be used for any purpose in which such an enzyme is necessary or desirable. For example, in recombinant DNA technology, including second-strand cDNA synthesis in cDNA cloning and DNA sequencing (see Maniatis et al., supra).

The Thermococcus gorgonarius DNA polymerase of the present invention may be modified chemically or genetically—site directed or random—to inactivate the 3′-5′ exonuclease function and used for any purpose in which such a modified enzyme is desirable, e.g., DNA sequencing or DNA labeling.

In addition, the Thermococcus gorgonarius DNA polymerase of the present invention may also be used to amplify DNA, e.g., by the procedure disclosed in EP 0 200 362, EP 0 201 184 and EP 0 693 078.

The following examples are given to illustrate embodiments of the present invention as it is presently preferred to practice. It will be understood that the examples are illustrative, and that the invention is not be considered as restricted except as indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: SDS polyacrylamide gel analysis of partially purified and purified recombinant DNA polymerase from T. gorgonarius.

Lane 1: 1 μl of crude extract.

Lane 2: 5 μl of polymerase fraction obtained after the first chromatography step (TSK Butyl Toyopearl 650C).

Lane 3: 5 μl of fraction obtained after second chromatography step (Fractogel Blue).

Lane 4: 10 μl of fraction obtained after second chromatography step (Fractogel Blue).

Lane 5: 10 units of DNA polymerase from Thermococcus gorgonarius.

Lane 6: Molecular weight markers.

Lane 7: 10 units of DNA polymerase from Pyrococcus woesei.

Lane 8: Molecular weight markers.

FIG. 2: In situ activity analysis of native and recombinant Thermococcus gorgonarius DNA polymerase in comparison to Klenow fragment, Pol I of E. coli and Thermus thermophilus DNA polymerase as described in Example 1. Native and recombinant Thermococcus gorgonarius DNA polymerase have the same electrophoretic mobility.

FIG. 3: DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO.:6) and the deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO.:7) of the gene encoding the DNA polymerase from Thermococcus gorgonarius.

FIG. 4: Determination of heat stability of T. gorgonarius polymerase as described in Example 5.

FIG. 5: Analysis of 3′-5′ exonuclease activity as described in Example 6.

Various amounts (units are indicated in the figure) of T. gorgonarius DNA polymerase were incubated with DNA fragments in the absence (−dNTPs) and presence (+dNTPs) of desoxynucleotide triphosphates. ctrl1 and 2: Control reactions without DNA polymerase.

The 3′-5′ exonuclease activity is dependent on the presence or absence of dNTPs.

FIG. 6: Comparison of various thermostable DNA polymerases (Vent exo-, 9° Nm, Taq) with respect to the incorporation of Cy5-dUTP. The reaction mixtures contained 2 mM MgCl₂, 30 nM of each primer, 1 ng DNA and 200 μM deoxynucleotide. Buffer conditions were used as recommended by the supplier of the enzymes. Plasmid DNA has been used in which the β-Actin-gene of the mouse has been inserted. TTP has been partly replaced by Cy5-dUTP. The reaction mixture contained Cy5-dUTP:TTP in the following ratios: 65:35 (lane 1), 50:50 (lane 2), 35:65 (lane 3), 15:85 (lane 4). As a control the above described reaction has been performed without modified nucleosidetriphosphates (lane 5).

FIG. 7: Use of TgO-polymerase in PCR, applying different amounts of polymerase as well as different MgCl₂ concentrations.

FIG. 8: Use of TgO-polymerase in PCR, applying different amounts of TgO polymerase; comparison of TgO and Pfu polymerase.

FIG. 9: Amplification of X-DNA; Comparison of TgO and Pfu polymerise.

FIG. 10: Comparison of TgO and Pfu polymerase; investigation of the influence of the KCl concentration on the PCR; 2.5 U polymerase has been used in every assay.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Purification of a thermostable DNA polymerase from Thermococcus gorgonarius.

Thermococcus gorgonarius (DSM 8976) was grown in the medium which was prepared as follows: A mineral solution containing KCl, 325 mg/l; MgCl₂ 2H₂O, 2.75 mg/l; MgSO₄ 7H₂O, 3.45 mg/l; NH₄Cl, 0.25 mg/l; CaCl₂ 2H₂O, 0.15 mg/l; KH₂PO₄, 0.15 mg/l; NaCl, 18 g/l; NaHCO₃, 1 g/l; trace elements, 4 ml/l (Balch et al., Microbiol. Rev., 43:260 (1979)), vitamins, 4 ml/l (Balch et al., supra); Rezazurin, 1 mg/l; 0.4 ml/l of a 0.2% solution of Fe(NH₂)₂(SO₄)₂ 7H₂O was boiled and cooled. The following components were added to the final concentrations as indicated: Peptone, 5 g/l; yeast extract, 1 g/l; Na₂S.9H₂O, 250 mg/l and cystein-HCl, 250 mg/l, the pH was adjusted to 6.2-6.4. The incubation temperature was 88° C. The cells were cooled to room temperature, collected by centrifugation and stored at −70° C. 6 g of cells were suspended in 12 ml of buffer A (40 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5; 0.1 mM EDTA; 7 mM 2-mercaptoethanol) containing 1 mM Pefabloc SCTM and disrupted by pressure at 1200 bar. KCl was added to a final concentration of 400 mM, dissolved and the solution was centrifuged at 48,200×g for 30 minutes at 4° C. The supernatant was passed through a 31 ml Heparin Sepharose Cl 6B column (Pharmacia). The column was then washed with 62 ml of buffer B (buffer A containing 10% glycerol). The column was eluted with a 310 ml linear gradient from 0 to 1.0 M NaCl in buffer B. The DNA polymerase eluted between 30 and 45 mS/cm. The fractions containing DNA polymerase activity were pooled and dialyzed twice against 600 ml buffer b, respectively, and applied to a 18 ml DEAE Sephacel column (Pharmacia). The column was washed with two column volumes of buffer b, and eluted with a 160 ml linear gradient of 0 to 0.9 M NaCl in buffer b. The polymerase activity eluted between 4 and 14 mS/cm. Fractions were pooled, dialyzed twice against buffer B (200 ml each time), and applied to a 4 ml Cellulose Phosphate P11 column (Whatman). The column was washed with 8 ml of buffer B and the activity eluted with a 40 ml linear gradient of 0 to 1 M NaCl. The active fractions which eluted between 13 and 32 mS/cm were pooled, dialyzed against buffer B containing (NH₄)₂SO₄ to 25% saturation and applied to a 4 ml TSK Butyl Toyopearl 650C column (TosoHaas). The column was washed with 8 ml 25% (NH₄)₂SO₄-saturated buffer B and eluted with 40 ml of a decreasing gradient of 25% to 0% (NH₄)₂SO₄-saturated buffer b. The polymerase eluted between 74 and 31 mS/cm, the pool was dialyzed against buffer B and applied to a 4 ml Fractogel TSK AF-Orange column (Merck). The column was washed with 8 ml of buffer B and eluted with a 80 ml linear gradient of 0 to 2.0 M NaCl. The active fractions (between 76 and 104 mS/cm) were pooled and dialyzed against storage buffer C (20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0; 0.1 mM EDTA; 10 mM 2-mercaptoethanol; 50 mM (NH₄)₂SO₄; 50% glycerol) and stored at −20° C. At this step the DNA polymerase was approximately 40% pure.

The molecular weight of the isolated DNA polymerase was determined by “activity gel analysis” according to a modified version of the method described by Spanos, A. and Hubscher, U., supra. The DNA polymerase sample was separated on a SDS polyacrylamide gel containing activated calf thymus DNA. The polymerase was renaturated in the gel in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.8; 1 mM EDTA; 3 mM 2-mercaptoethanol; 50 mM KCl; 5% glycerol. Labeling of the DNA with Dig-dUTP (Boehringer Mannheim) was performed in 10 ml of the following buffer: 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.8; 7 mM MgCl₂; 3 mM 2-mercaptoethanol; 100 mM KCl; 12 μM dGTP; 12 μM dCTP; 12 μM dATP; 6 μM dTTP; 6 μM Dig-dUTP. The gel was first incubated under shaking at room temperature (30 minutes) and then slowly warmed up to 72° C. by temperature increments of 5° C. At each temperature interval DNA synthesis is allowed to proceed for 30 minutes, in order to detect also polymerase activity of mesophile control polymerases. Then the gel was washed and the DNA was blotted on a nylon membrane (Boehringer Mannheim), UV crosslinked. The digoxygenin-labeled DNA was detected using the protocol described in the “Boehringer Mannheim's Dig System User's Guide for Filter Hybridization”. As molecular weight markers E. coli DNA polymerase I, Thermus thermophilus DNA polymerase and Klenow fragment were analyzed on the same gel. The DNA polymerase isolated from Thermococcus gorgonarius has an apparent molecular weight in the range of 92,000 to 96,000 daltons as shown in FIG. 2.

Example 2 Cloning of the T. gorgonarius DNA Polymerase

-   -   1. DNA from T gorgonarius was isolated and purified by the         method described in Lawyer, F. C. et al., J. Biol. Chem.,         264:6427-6437 (1989).     -   2. The DNA was restricted with BamHI, separated on an low         melting point agarose gel, denatured and blotted onto a nylon         membrane. The blot was probed with a Digoxigenin labeled         oligonucleotide of the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1. A signal         could be detected and the region corresponding to the         hybridization signal was cut out of the gel. The gel piece was         melted and the DNA isolated by ethanol precipitation.     -   3. The DNA fragments isolated were ligated into a plasmid         vector, hybridized with SEQ ID. NO:1. The plasmid DNA from         positive clones were isolated and the nucleic acid sequences of         the insert determined. The DNA sequences obtained were then         compared with sequences of DNA polymerase genes published in         Braithwaite, D. K. and Ito, J., Nucl. Acids Res., 21:787-802         (1993).     -   4. From the sequence of one of the cloned fragments which showed         a high degree of homology to the B type DNA polymerases         described in the publication of Braithwaite et al., supra, the         primers SEQ ID NOS:2 and 3 were designed. These primers bind         close to the ends of the cloned DNA fragment in opposite         orientations to allow amplification of the flanking genomic         sequences in circularized template DNA.     -   5. With these primers “inverse PCR” was performed according of         the method of Innis, M. A., supra, with the DNA from step 1         which was cleaved with EcoRI and circularized with T4 DNA         ligase. With this technique two fragments were generated and the         sequences determined. An open reading frame could be identified.         The deduced amino acid sequence showed strong homologies to         known DNA polymerases of the pol B type.     -   6. From the sequence of the DNA fragment identified in step 5,         new primers were designed, the sequences are shown in SEQ ID         NOS:4 and 5, which were complementary to the start and the end         of the reading frame. The primers contained additional         non-complementary 5′ sequences with restriction sites to         introduce clonable ends into the PCR product in such an         orientation that the product would be under transcriptional and         translational control of the promoter.     -   7. The PCR product was cleaved with EcoRI and PstI, purified and         ligated into the vector pBTac2. This clone, expressing the DNA         polymerase from Thermococcus gorgonarius was designated         pBTac2Tgo.

SEQ ID NO: 1: 5′-ATG ATH YTN GAY ACN GAY TAY ATH AC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 2: 5′-GGC CTA CGA GAG GAA CGA ACT GGC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 3: 5′-GGC GTA GAT GTA GGG CTC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 4: 5′-GAG CTG GTC GAA TTC ATG ATC CTG GAC GCT GAC TAC ATC ACC -3′ SEQ ID NO: 5: 5′-AGC CTG CAG TCA TGT CTT AGG TTT TAG CCA CGC-3′

Example 3 Expression of Recombinant T. gorgonarius DNA

The vector from example 2 was transformed into E. coli strain LE 392 pUBS 520, cultivated in a fermentor in a rich medium containing the appropriate antibiotic. Induction was performed at an optical density of 1.25 A540 with 0.5 mM IPTG. The DNA polymerase from T. gorgonarius may also be cloned and expressed by other methods.

Cells are harvested at an optical density of 5.4 A₅₄₀ by centrifugation and frozen until needed or lyzed by treatment with lysozyme to produce a crude cell extract containing the T. gorgonarius DNA polymerase activity.

The crude extract containing the T. gorgonarius DNA polymerase activity is purified by the method described in Example 1, or by other purification techniques such as affinity-chromatography, ion-exchange-chromatography or hydrophobic-interaction-chromatography.

Example 4 Purification of Recombinant T. gorgonarius DNA Polymerase

E. coli (LE392 pUBS520) pBtac2Tgo (DSM No. 11328) was grown in a 101 fermentor in media containing 20 g/liter tryptone, 10 g/liter yeast extract, 5 g/liter NaCl and 100 mg/liter ampicilline at 37° C. and induced with 0.5 mM IPTG at mid-exponential growth phase and incubated an additional 4 hours. About 45 g of cells were harvested by centrifugation and stored at −70° C.

2 g of cells were thawed and suspended at room temperature in 4 ml of buffer A (40 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5; 0.1 mM EDTA; 7 mM 2-mercaptoethanol; 1 mM Pefabloc SC). 1.2 mg of lysozyme were added and the cells were lyzed under stirring for 30 minutes at 4° C. 4.56 mg sodium deoxycholate were added and the suspension incubated for 10 minutes at room temperature followed by 20 minutes at 0° C. The crude extract was adjusted to 750 mM KCl, heated for 15 minutes at 72° C. and centrifuged for removal of denatured protein.

The supernatant was adjusted to 25% saturation with (NH₄)₂SO₄ and applied to a TSK Butyl Toyopearl 650C column (1.5×10 cm; 17.7 ml bed volume) equilibrated with buffer B (buffer A containing 10% glycerol) and 30% (NH₄)₂SO₄ saturation. The column was washed with 70 ml of buffer B and the polymerase was eluted with a 177 ml linear gradient of buffer B containing 30% to 0% (NH₄)₂SO₄ saturation and 0 to 0.2% THESIT™ (v/v).

The column fractions were assayed for DNA polymerase activity. DNA polymerase activity was measured by incorporation of digoxigenin labeled dUTP into the newly synthesized DNA and detection and quantification of the incorporated digoxigenin essentially as described below. The reaction is performed in a reaction volume of 50 μl containing 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.5; 15 mM (NH₄)₂SO₄; 7 mM MgCl₂; 10 mM 2-mercaptoethanol; 100 μM of dATP, dGTP, dCTP, dTTP, respectively; 200 μg/ml BSA; 12 μg of DNAse activated DNA from calf thymus and 0.036 μM digoxigenin-dUTP and 1 or 2 Al of diluted (0.05 U to 0.01 U) DNA polymerase from T gorgonarius. The samples are incubated for 30 minutes at 72° C., the reaction is stopped by addition of 2 μl of 0.5 M EDTA, and the tubes placed on ice. After addition of 8 Al of 5 M NaCl and 150 μl of Ethanol (pre-cooled to −20° C.) the DNA is precipitated by incubation for 15 minutes on ice and pelleted by centrifugation for 10 minutes at 13,000 rpm and 4° C. The pellet is washed with 100 μl of 70% Ethanol (pre-cooled to −20° C.) and 0.2 M NaCl, centrifuged again and dried under vacuum. The pellets are dissolved in 50 μl Tris/EDTA (10 mM/0.1 mM; pH 7.5). 5 μl of the sample are spotted into a well of a nylon membrane bottomed white microwell plate (Pall Filtrationstechnik GmbH, Dreieich, FRG, product no: SM045BWP). The DNA is fixed to the membrane by baking for 10 minutes at 70° C. The DNA-loaded wells are filled with 100 μl of 0.45 μm filtrated 1% blocking solution (maleic acid, 100 mM; NaCl, 150 mM; casein, 1% (w/v); pH 7.5). All following incubation steps are done at room temperature. After incubation for 2 minutes the solution is sucked through the membrane with a suitable vacuum manifold at −0.4 bar. After repeating the washing step once the wells are filled with 100 μl of a 1:10,000-dilution of Anti-digoxigenin-AP Fab fragments (Boehringer Mannheim, FRG, No: 1 093 274) diluted in the blocking solution described above. After incubation for 2 minutes and sucking the solution through the membrane, this step is repeated once. The wells are washed twice under vacuum with 200 μl washing-buffer 1 (maleic-acid, 100 mM; NaCl, 150 mM; TWEEN™ 20, 0.3% (v/v); pH 7.5). After washing for another two times under vacuum with 200 μl washing-buffer 2 (Tris-HCl, 10 mM; NaCl, 100 mM; MgCl₂, 50 mM; pH 9.5) the wells are incubated for 5 minutes with 50 μl of CSPD™ (Boehringer Mannheim, No: 1 655 884), diluted 1:100 in washing buffer 2 which serves as a chemiluminescent substrate for the subsequent alkaline phosphatase reaction.

The solution is sucked through the membrane and after 10 minutes incubation the RLU/s (Relative Light Unit per second) are detected in a Lummometer, e.g., MicroLumat LB 96 P (EG&G Berthold, Wilbad, FRG).

In order to correlate the relative light units to the polymerase units as defined commonly, a standard curve was prepared using a serial dilution of Taq DNA polymerase as a standard enzyme. The Taq polymerase was assayed in the buffer recommended by the supplier. The linear range of the standard curve was used to determine the relative activity of the T. gorgonarius DNA polymerase preparations.

The active fractions were pooled, dialyzed twice against 500 ml buffer B and applied to a Fractogel TSK AF-Blue column (1×10; 7.8 ml bed volume) equilibrated with buffer B. After washing with 15 ml buffer B b the column was eluted with a linear gradient of 156 ml from 0 to 3 M NaCl in buffer B supplemented with 0.05% THESIT™. The active fractions were pooled and dialyzed against the storage buffer C (20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.2; 10 mM 2-mercaptoethanol; 0.1 mM EDTA; 50 mM (NH₄)₂SO₄; 50% glycerol). After adding of 0.5% of NONIDET™ P40 (v/v) and 0.5% of THESIT™ (v/v) the preparation was stored at −20° C.

Characterization of the Recombinant DNA Polymerase from Thermococcus gorgonarius

Recombinant and native T. gorgonarius DNA polymerase had the same apparent molecular weight when electrophoresed in 8-25% SDS-PAGE gradient gels. Recombinant T. gorgonarius polymerase maintains the heat stability of the native enzyme. Recombinant T. gorgonarius polymerase has the same 3′-5′ exonuclease activity as native T. gorgonarius polymerase, which is also sensitive to inhibition by an excess of dNTPs.

Example 5 Thermostability of T. gorgonarius DNA Polymerase

The thermostability of the DNA polymerase from T. gorgonarius purified as described in Example 1 was determined as follows: 5 units purified T. gorgonarius polymerase were incubated at 95° C. in 100 gl of the following buffer: 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.8 (at 25° C.); 15 mM (NH₄)₂SO₄; 7 mM MgCl₂; 10 mM 2-mercaptoethanol; 200 μM each of dATP, dGTP, dCTP and dTTP; 0.1% NONIDET™ P40, 0.1% THESIT™; 25 μg DNAse treated calf thymus DNA. 15 μl samples were taken at 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 120 minutes. The remaining polymerase activity was measured as described in Example 4 by determining incorporation of labeled ³H-TTP into DNA in a 50 μl volume of the incubation mixture described above containing in addition 150 nCi of ³H-TTP. After incubation at 72° C. for 30 minutes, the reactions were stopped by addition of 300 μl 10% TCA, and after 10 minutes at 0° C. the mixtures were applied onto 3mM filters (Whatman). The filters were washed three times with approximately 10 ml 5% TCA each time, dried for 10 minutes at 75° C. and the DNA-bound radioactivity of each filter was measured in 5 ml scintillation liquid in a scintillation vial in LKB rack beta 1217/1218 (Pharmacia).

As shown in FIG. 4, the T. gorgonarius DNA polymerase retained almost 90% of its initial activity after incubation for 120 minutes at 95° C., Pwo polymerase has a similar stability, while Taq DNA polymerise has a remaining activity of approximately 16% only.

Example 6 Determination of 3′-5′ Proofreading Activity

A series of units of T. gorgonarius DNA polymerase (see FIG. 5) were incubated for 4 hours at 72° C. with 1 μg DNA molecular weight marker VI (Boehringer Mannheim) in the presence and absence of dNTPs, 1 mM each, in 50 μl of the following incubation buffer: 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.8; 10 mM MgCl₂; 7 mM 2-mercaptoethanol with Paraffin overlay. After addition of 10 μl stop solution the DNA fragments were separated on a 1% agarose gel. In the absence of dNTPs, a smear of DNA fragments or no DNA could be detected while in presence of dNTPs the DNA fragments remained undegraded.

Example 7 Fidelity of T. gorgonarius DNA Polymerase in the PCR Process

The fidelity of T. gorgonarius DNA polymerase in the PCR process was determined in an assay based on the amplification, circularization and transformation of the pUC19 derivate pUCIQ17, containing a functional lac I^(q) allele (Frey, B. and Suppmann, B., Biochemica, 2:34-35 (1995)). PCR-derived mutations in lac I are resulting in a derepression of the expression of lac Zα and subsequent formation of a functional β-galactosidase enzyme which can be easily detected on X-Gal indicator plates. The error rates determined with this lac I-based PCR fidelity assay were in the range of 3.4 to 2.2·10⁻⁶.

The plasmid pUCIQ17 was linearized by digestion with DraII to serve as a substrate for PCR amplification with DNA polymerase of T. gorgonarius. Both of the primers used have ClaI sites at their 5 prime ends:

SEQ ID NO: 8: Primer 1: 5′-AGCTTATCGATGGCACTTTTCGGGGAAATGTGCG-3′ SEQ ID NO: 9: Primer 2: 5′-AGCTTATCGATAAGCGGATGCCGGGAGCAGACAAGC-3′

The length of the resulting PCR product is 3493 pb.

The PCR was performed in a final volume of 50 μl in the presence of 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.5 (25° C.), 12.5 mM (NH₄)₂SO₄, 35 mM KCl, 200 μM dNTPs and 2.5 units of T. gorgonarius DNA polymerase. Conditions of the amplification reaction using T. gorgonarius DNA polymerase are

The cycle conditions were as follows:

$1 \times {denaturation}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {template}\mspace{14mu} {for}\mspace{14mu} 2\mspace{14mu} {\min.\mspace{14mu} {at}}\mspace{14mu} 95{^\circ}\mspace{14mu} {C.8} \times \left\lbrack {\begin{matrix} {{denaturation}\mspace{14mu} {at}\mspace{14mu} 95{^\circ}\mspace{14mu} {C.\mspace{14mu} {for}}\mspace{14mu} 10\mspace{14mu} {\sec.}} \\ {{annealing}\mspace{14mu} {at}\mspace{14mu} 57{^\circ}\mspace{14mu} {C.\mspace{14mu} {for}}\mspace{14mu} 30\mspace{14mu} {\sec.}} \\ {{elongation}\mspace{14mu} {at}\mspace{14mu} 72{^\circ}\mspace{14mu} {C.\mspace{14mu} {for}}\mspace{14mu} 4\mspace{14mu} {\min.}} \end{matrix}16 \times \left\lbrack \begin{matrix} {{denaturation}\mspace{14mu} {at}\mspace{14mu} 95{^\circ}\mspace{14mu} {C.\mspace{14mu} {for}}\mspace{14mu} 10\mspace{14mu} {\sec.}} \\ {{annealing}\mspace{14mu} {at}\mspace{14mu} 57{^\circ}\mspace{14mu} {C.\mspace{14mu} {for}}\mspace{14mu} 30\mspace{14mu} {\sec.}} \\ {{elongation}\mspace{14mu} {at}\mspace{14mu} 72{^\circ}\mspace{14mu} {C.\mspace{14mu} {for}}\mspace{14mu} 4\mspace{14mu} {\min.}} \\ {{+ \mspace{14mu} {cycle}}\mspace{14mu} {elongation}\mspace{14mu} 20\mspace{14mu} {\sec.\mspace{14mu} {for}}\mspace{14mu} {each}\mspace{14mu} {cycle}} \end{matrix} \right.} \right.$

After PCR, the PCR products were PEG-precipitated (Barnes, W. M., Gene, 112:229 (1992)) the DNA restricted with ClaI and purified by agarose gel electrophoresis. The isolated DNA was ligated using the Rapid DNA Ligation Kit (Boehringer Mannheim GmbH) and the ligation products transformed in E. coli DH5a, plated on TN Amp X-Gal plates. The α-complementing E. coli strain DH5a transformed with the resulting plasmid pUCIQ17 (3632 bp), shows white (lacI⁺) colonies on TN plates (1.5% Bacto Tryptone, 1% NaCl, 1.5% Agar) containing ampicillin (100 μg/ml) and X-Gal (0.004% w/v). Mutations result in blue colonies.

After incubation overnight at 37° C., blue and white colonies were counted. The error rate (f) per by was calculated with a rearranged equation as published by Keohavong and Thilly (Keohavong, P. and Thilly, W., PNAS USA, 86:9253 (1989)):

f=−ln F/d×bbp

where F is the fraction of white colonies:

F=white (lacI+)colonies/total colony number;

d is the number of DNA duplications:

2^(d)=output DNA/input DNA;

and b is the effective target size of the (1080 bp) lac I gene, which is 349 by according to Provost et al. (Provost et al., Mut. Res., 288:133 (1993)).

Example 8 Fidelity Assay

Determination of the misincorporation rates of DNA polymerases from Pyrococcus furiosus and Thermococcus gorgonarius under PCR conditions.

Error rates of many DNA polymerases are published. For example for the DNA polymerase of Pyrococcus furiosus various error rates were measured (Lit. 1-5). They may vary with the conditions used, e.g., nucleotide triphosphate concentrations, enzyme preparation, buffer conditions and of course with the method used, the determination of the number of duplications and the way to calculate the misincorporation rate.

Therefore, the DNA polymerases Pfu (Stratagene) and Tgo (Boehringer Mannheim GmbH) were analyzed in parallel in the same system (Protocol: Frey, B. and Suppman, B. Boehringer Mannheim Biochemica Information, Nr. 96-1995, 21-23).

TABLE 1 Fidelity of Pfu and Tgo DNA polymerases in PCR fidelity assay DNA Plaques scored Mutation Error Polymerase Total Mutant frequency Error rate (a) rate (b) Pfu 1. sample 3082 76 2.47 1.56 × 10⁻⁵  8.2 × 10⁻⁶ 2. sample 2693 68 2.52 1.6 × 10⁻⁵ 8.4 × 10⁻⁶ Tgo 1. sample 1904 12 0.63 3.5 × 10⁻⁶ 1.8 × 10⁻⁶ 2. 2003 20 1 5.6 × 10⁻⁶ 2.9 × 10⁻⁶

-   (a) Error rate calculated according to the equation used by     Stratagene (Lundberg, K. S. et al., Gene, 108:1-6 (1991)).

ER=mf/bp×d

-   -   ER=error rate     -   mf=mutation frequency in % minus background frequency of 0.0017%     -   bp is the number of detectable sites in the lac I gene sequence         (182)     -   d is the number of duplications. In this particular experiment         the number of duplications was determined/estimated for Pfu to         be 8.64 and for Tgo to be 9.64

-   (b) Error rate calculated per by with a rearranged equation     published by Keohavong, P. and Thilly, W., PNAS USA, 86:9253 (1989).

ER=−ln F/d×bbp

-   -   F=fraction of white colonies (white colonies/total number of         colonies)     -   d=the number of duplications. 2^(d)=output DNA/input DNA     -   b is the effective target size of the (1080 bp) lac I gene,         which is 349 by according to Provost, G. S. et al., Mut. Res.,         288:133 (1993)

Result:

These data show that the mutation frequency of Tgo DNA polymerase is lower than that of Pfu, and the fidelity (calculated in errors per base pair) is higher no matter which way of calculation was used.

References describing error rates for Pfu:

-   1. Lundberg, K. S. et al., Gene, 108:1-6 (1991) (1.6×10⁻⁶     errors/base) -   2. Flaman, J. M. et al., NAR, 22:3259-3260 (1994). (2×10⁻⁶     errors/base) For Tli (Vent) Polymerase: (Variations in error rate     depending on assay) -   3. Cariello, N. F. et al., NAR, 19:4193-4198 (1991). (2.4×10⁻⁵     errors/base) -   4. Ling, L. L. et al., PCR Methods Appl., 1:63-69 (1991). (4.5×10⁻⁵     errors/base) -   5. Matilla, P. et al., NAR, 19:4967-4973 (1991). (5.7×10⁻⁵     errors/base) 

1. A process for preparation of a DNA polymerase, the process comprising: growing a microbial host cell comprising a DNA encoding a thermostable DNA polymerase obtainable from Thermococcus gorgonarius which catalyses the template directed polymerization of DNA, possesses 3″-5″-exonuclease (proofreading) activity and is characterized by at least a two-fold greater replication fidelity than DNA polymerase obtainable from Pyrococcus furiosus, wherein the DNA polymerase comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:7; or the DNA comprises the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6; or the DNA polymerase has an apparent molecular weight between about 92,000 and 96,000 daltons; and purifying the DNA polymerase from the host cell.
 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the host cell comprises a vector and said vector comprises the DNA encoding a thermostable DNA polymerase.
 3. The process of claim 1, wherein the DNA polymerase comprises a coding sequence for the DNA polymerase, amplifiable from T. gorgonarius using primers consisting of SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:5.
 4. The process of claim 1, wherein the DNA polymerase comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:7.
 5. The process of claim 1, wherein the DNA comprises the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6.
 6. The process of claim 1, wherein the DNA polymerase has an apparent molecular weight between about 92,000 and 96,000 daltons.
 7. The process of claim 1, wherein the host cell is E. coli. 